Filling feeler for looms



Nov. 24,v 1942. H. H. HoLcoMBE -F1LL1NG FEELER Foa Looms Filed Aug. 4, 1 940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VEN TOR Ho/nER H. Hoz. coMBE MQW A TTORNE Y 5 Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED ySTATES PTNT FFHCE FILLING FEELER FOR LOOMS Homer H. Holcombe, Columbus, Ga., assignor to Textile Equipment, Inc., a corporation of4 Alahama Application. August 4, 1940, Serial No. 351,395

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a filling feeler for looms of the general type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 100,661, filed September 14, 1936 (now Patent No. 2,211,778, dated August 20, 1940), and this application is av continuation inv part of said prior application as to all matter common to the two applications.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a filling feeler of the type disclosed in my patent aforesaid in association with an electric circuit, together with electro-magnetic means operable upon closing of the circuit to call a change, and circuit closing means actuatedbythe pull rod of the feeler to close the circuit.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a simple but efcient electro-magnetic means which is operable responsive to a predetermined feeler motion to place the change calling latch in position to be struck 'by the dagger carried on "i the forwardly moving lay.

A further objectA of my invention is the provision of a change calling latch which is moved into change calling position with respect to the dagger by means of a solenoid of the plunger or movable core type.

A still further object of myV invention is the provision of a feeler embodying a plunger carryingA at its forward end a pivoted feeler tip for feeling the bobbin in the shuttle and a full rod secured to the tip onthe opposed side of its pivot from the part which feels the bobbin, the pull rod beingl biased forwardly by means of 'a spring having one end secured thereto, the other end of the spring being secured to an angled end of the plunger whereby uniform resistance is eX- erted to prevent the tipfrom rocking about its pivot.

Another object of my invention is to provide a feeler having a plunger slidable in bearings at one side of a housing, the housing being provided with a guide way against which a relatively long, angled portion of the plunger slides, thus providing a relatively long guide with sufficient leverage to prevent the plunger from rotating lli) provements set forth above, and which at the same time shall be accurate, dependable, `durable and compact.

Briefly, my invention comprises a feeler mounted on the feeling end of a loom and having a pivoted feeler tip carried by a plunger. The plunger is reciprocably mounted in bearings carried at the side of a small housing and has its inner end turned out or angled normally of the plunger rod to form a guide. A guide way is provided in the housing at the opposite side from the plunger rod and the guide is in length equal substantially to the width of the housing. A light coil spring ybiases the plunger rearwardly of the housing, that is, toward the bobbin. The tip is pivoted and is provided with a curved row of teeth on one side of its pivot adapted `to feel the bobbin, while on the other side there is an eX- tension to which is pivotally secured one end of a pull rod. The other end of the pull rod enters the housing and has fastened thereto a light coil spring which is in tension and serves to keep the toothed side of the tip biased outwardly toward the bobbin. An electric switch is mounted in the housing in such position that it is closed by the inner end of the pull rod when the tip detects the kabsence of filling on the bobbin and side slips thereon. An electric circuit having therein a suitable source of electric -current leads from the switch to an electro-magnet, which is preferably of the plunger or movable core type. The movable core of the electro-magnet is pivotally secured to the change calling latch so that when the electro-magnet is energized the latch is placed in position to be struck by the forwardly moving dagger and calls the change.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application, and which illustrate my invention in its preferred embodiments only- Fig. 1 is a plan View of one embodiment of my improved feeler with the cover of Ithe housing removed and showing the feeler associated with an empty bobbin in change calling position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1, and'v showing diagrammatically the electro-magnetic means for operating the change calling latch;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a modified form of feeler with the cover of the housing broken away and illustrating the electric switch and circuits for operating the electro-magnet associated with the change calling latch;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the lineIV-IV of Fig. 3 and having added thereto a side elevational view of the electro-magnet and change calling latch;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental plan view of the feeler illustrated in Fig. 3 and showing one means for mechanically operating the change calling latch;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of my improved Ieeler tip; and

Fig. 'I is a sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

In Fig. l I show an embodiment of my invention which in its mechanical structure is substantially the same as that described in the above mentioned patent but on which I have applied my improved electric means to call the change. As

seen, the feeler embodies a housing having aV wall I2 on the rear end towards the bobbin I3. The housing is adapted for mounting on the loom in any suitable manner as by the bracket I4, shown in dotted lines, Fig. l. In its normal operating position the feeler is set directly in front of an opening in the shuttle I6, shown in dotted lines, and the slide portion of the feeler is adapted to reciprocate in a line normal to the axis of the bobbin I3.

The housing EI is an open top casting formed with side walls I'I. Along the base of the right hand side wall |'I is formed a guide I8 to receive the angled end I9 of a Icylindrical feeler plunger 2| which slides with a close nt through a hole in the rear wall I2 and through a bore in a bearing 22 cast integral with the housing and formed with a tip 23 adapted to engage and stop the plunger end I9 when it reaches its full extended position. The feeler tip 24 is provided with a curved set of teeth 26 designed to contact the lling 28 on the bobbin I3 and adapted when engaged with the filling to hold the tip against turning on its pivot 29. The tip is held to working position by a pull rod 3| engaged in the heel portion 32 of the tip 24, which rod extends through the wall I2 into the housing Within the housing the pull rod 3| is provided with an angle hook 33 engaged by a coil tension spring 34 connected to an element 36 in the housing. The pull rod 3| normally reciprocates with the plunger 2i and its spring acts through the connection to heel 32 to hold the tip biased against a stop 3'! formed at the top of a mounting ferrule 33.

The end I9 of the plunger 2| is connected by a coil tension spring 39 to the housing wall I2 and acts oppositely to the spring 34 to force the plunger rearwardly towards the bobbin. Mounted within the housing II is a switch which is in position to be closed by the angled end 33 of pull rod 3| responsive to side slipping of the feeler tip 24 on the bobbin i3. The switch comprises an insulation block 42 secured to the underside of the housing I I, and a second insulation block 43 secured to a cut-out 44 in the bottom wall of the housing I I. The parts of the switch forming the electric circuit comprise a contact member 43 rising into the path of the hook 33 carried by the pull rod 3| and adapted to be .depressed into engagement with a Contact 47 when the feeler tip 24 assumes change calling position (see Fig. l). The other end of the contact member 48 is electrically connected to a pin 48 to form the other contact of the switch. Upon closing of the switch a circuit 49 is established from a battery 5I through the feeler boX switch to a magnet 52 thence returning to the battery.

In Fig. 2 the magnet 52 is conventionally illustrated, and as seen its position with respect to the change calling latch 53 is such that upon energiz'ation of the magnet the change calling latch will be rocked into position for its notch 54 to be struck by the dagger 56 carried by the forwardly moving lay.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show a form of my feeler which I have found has certain improved operating characteristics not found in the embodiment shown in Fig. l. As seen, the feeler plunger 2| instead of being disposed centrally, that is to say midway between the side Walls I'I of the housing II, is disposed adjacent one of the Walls |'I thereof. An angled end I9a, which it will be noted is much longer than the end I9, is provided on the forward end of the feeler slide 2| and bears against a guide way |8a. The spring 39 is secured to the angled end |9a and has its other end fast on the rear wall I2 of the housing II. The spring 34, which biases the pull rod 3| forwardly, is fastened around the angled end I9a instead of to the housing II. A stop 23a serves to prevent the slide 2| from moving too far rearwardly.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the long end I9a more denitely and positively prevents rotation .of the plunger or slide 42| because its leverage has been increased, and hence always causes the feeler member to strike the bobbin I3 along its central axis, thus insuring a more efcient operation of the device.

In Fig. 4 I show a slightly modified form of switch for operating the electro-magnetic means for calling the change. A movable contact element 5'I is provided with a slightly elongated top portion 58 interposed in the path of the angled end 33 on the pull rod 3| so that the switch will be closed when side slipping occurs. It will be noted that the flat portion 58 causes the contact member 5'I not only to be closed sooner than does the switch shown in Fig. 2, but also that it causes the circuit to stay energized longer. The object of this construction is to allow the change calling latch 53 to stay in its change calling position a longer length 0f time to be sure that the dagger engages the latch.

Leading from the contacts 59 and 6| is a circuit 62 having therein a source of electrical energy 63 and a solenoid 54, which is preferably of the plunger or movable core type. The solenoid 64 is mounted by means of brackets 66 on the cross arm 61 of the change calling mechanism, which arm is in turn mounted in bearings 68 on the change calling rocker shaft 69 of the conventional change calling mechanism. The plunger 'II of the solenoid 64 is pivotally secured as at 'I2 to the change calling latch 53. The latch 53 is provided with a weighted end 'I3 which tends to hold it out of change calling position and it is pivotally mounted on the cross arm 6'I by means of a screw '14. Beneath the weighted end 'I3 of the change calling latch and secured to the cross arm4 61 is a stop member 'I6 which serves to limit the lcounter-clockwise rotation of the latch and thus holds the plunger 'II always in operating position within the solenoid 64.

Referring now to Fig. 5, I show a mechanical means for operating the change calling latch 53. Mounted in a suitable bracket I'I on one wall I'I oi' the housing II, is a transmitter 'I8 which has its crank arm 'I9 disposed in the path of the flanged end |9a of the feeler slide 2|. 'Ihe dotted lines show the position assumed by the crank 19 when the feeler is-in -th-e change calling position. i l

In the operation of this embodiment of my invention, when the slide 2| is moved forwardly by the engagement oi its feeler tip i4 with sunicient lling on the bobbin, its motion will rock crank 'I3 towards its dotted position, which will throw a crank Si on the other end oi the transmitter T8 downwardly and ss the notch bearing end of `the change calling latch 53. In this instance the latch is inverted to present its notched end 5d uppermost and the dagger 55 is disposed to work over instead of under the notch. Each normal motion of the plunger 2i, therefore, will depress the latch 53 and cause it to miss the dagger but whenever the feeler tip ELI side slips, as seen in full lin-es Fig. S, the latch 53 will remain in the path of the dagger and the change will be called. sence of normal plunger movement will leave the latch in the path of the dagger to call the change.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 and '7 which illustrate the outer or feeling end of the slide 2l carrying the ferrule 33, it will be seen that the pivot 29 is provided with a bushing which is interposed between the pivot 29 and the ieeler element It is well known that the feelingr end of the slide in this type of ieeler is called upon to bear extremely heavy stresses due to continually striking the bobbin. I have found that the construction illustrated provides an eittremely simple, yet very durable means for mounting the movable element 2t. Also since the ferrule 38 may be made of sheet metal, it is extremely simple to manufacture and may be attached to the end of the plunger 2l by means of -a single rivet 38a.

The operation of my device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is as follows: When the bobbin I3 has wound thereon a supply of filling, the slide above the plunger 2| reciprocates back and forth responsive to forward andrearward movement of the lay, the feeler tip 2t remaining in its normal position, that is to say, that position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. As soon as the filling is exhausted, or is so nearly exhausted that there is not enough left to hold the tip in its normal position, the feeler tip 24 side slips on the bobbin I3. Responsive to this side slipping, the angled end 33 of pull rod 3l strikes the switch contact member 46, closing circuit 49, thus energizing magnet 52. Responsive to this energization the latch 53 is rocked about its pivot 74 and its notched end 54 is moved into position to be struck by the dagger 56 to call the change.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 3 vand 4 is very similar to that already described. However, due to the fact that the contact member 51 of the switch in this embodiment is provided with an elongated portion 58, magnet 64 is held energized for a somewhat longer time than is the case with magnet 52. This feature is extremely important when the device is employed on a loom running at a high number of picks per In other words, the abminute as it gives the latch 53 suilicient time to be struck by the dagger 541.

The long angled end ld provides an increased amount of leverage over the one shown in Fig. l and hence more readily prevents rotation of the plunger 2i.

Because of the fact that the spring 34, as shown in Fig. 3, has its end secured to the angled end lila instead of to the housing I I as seen in Fig. l, it will readily be seen that uniform tension is applied to the pivoted member 2.4 to prevent it from being rocked about its pivot 29 when it strikes the bobbin. I have found that this uniform tension in all corresponding positions of the plunger EI is desirable for some types of looms.

The mechanically operated latch shown in Fig. 5 is an obvious adaptation of my improved feeler, it being understood that the transmitter 'I8 may be positioned either to 4raise 'the latch 53 in position to be struck by the dagger, or it may be caused to lower the latch 53 out of the path of the dagger as illustrated.

I have found the operation of my improved feeler to be extremely accurate and dependable, and by securing both springs 39 and 34 to the angled end ma of the plunger 2i, I have been enabled to substantially decrease the dimensions of the housing I I.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claim.

What -I claim is:

A filling feeler for controlling a change calling mechanism in an automatic loom comprising a housing, a feeler slide mounted for reciprocation adjacent a side of said housing, an angled portion on the forward end of said slide extending substantially the width of the housing, guide means in said housing against which the end of said angled portion is adapted to bear to hold the slide against rotation, a short feeler tip pivotally mounted on the rearward end of said slide and having a heel on one side of said pivo-t and a bobbin-engaging portion on the other side, the pivot point of said tip being substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of said slide, a pull rod pivoted to said heel and entering said housing, a spring secured to the langled end of the slide and adapted to bias it rearwardly, and a second spring secured to the angled end of the slide and to the end of said pull rod within the housing to bias the bobbin-engaging portion of the feeler tip toward the b-obbin.

. HOMER H. HOLCOMBE. 

